Depositing device



Nov. 30, 1954 E. T. oAKEs 2,695,572

DEPOSITING DEVICE Filed Sept. 5, 1952 INVENTOR. EARLE T. OAKES H [S ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 30, 1954 United States Patent 2,695,512

2,695,512 nnrosrrmc DEVICE Earle'TuDakenDoug'laston, N. Y., assignor to The E. T. igakes Corpoi-ation, Islip, N. Y., a corporationof New ork Application SeptemberS, 1952,Serial No. 307,971 TClaims. Cl. 107-29 The depositing head in accordance with the present invention .is an improvementof the depositing head dis:

closed in my copending application Serial No. 211,961, filed February 20, 1951, now Patent No. 2,664,055,dated December 2.9, 1 953, and may be used in the depositing apparatus disclosed therein as well as in othersystems or depositors in which the material to be deposited is delivered under pressure to the depositing head.

.In accordance with the present invention, a typical depositing head may include a manifold provided with a rowof-depositing nozzles and a plurality of passages to receiveand supply ditferent'kinds of coating or topping or other materials .to the several nozzles, selectively, underdhecontrol of valves associated withthe nozzles and passages.

More particularly the depositing Ihead may include a manifold having substantially parallel passages or bores therein to which different kinds of coating, topping or othermaterials aredelivered, under pressure. The manifold may have one or more pairs of therpassages therein depending upon whether two, four or more different kinds of material are to be discharged therefrom, selectively, and/or simultaneously. The manifold and the passages therein are preferably of a length'sufiicient to span the width of -a conveyor or the like on which the articles to receive a 'deposit are carried through the depositing apparatus, although if'space limitations orother reasons limit the length of the manifold, two ormore manifolds may beiprovided in end to end or staggered-relationship.

The manifold is provided with a row of depositing nozzles for each pair of passages. The nozzles extend downwardly from the manifold, preferably with their axes parallel and in a plane extending between the passages. :Ea'ch-nozzl'e communicates with a bore or opening'extending upwardly =throughthe manifold between, but*communicatingwith, the passages on opposite sides ofit,fso'tltat material can-flow from either of the passages through each ofthenozzles. In ordertosegregate the materials to be deposited and to deposit, selectively, the material in either passage through the nozzles, a control valveismounted in eachof the openings. The control valve for each nozzle can be adiuste'd to shut offcomrnunication between both of the passages and the nozzle or allow communication between eitherpassage and the nozzle. Inasmuch as each nozzle has a corresponding valve, each nozzle-can beused to deposit material in either-of the passages. In this way, alternate nozzles or selected groups of nozzles can be used to deposit one material while the other nozzles can be used to depositanotherkind of material or'even be shut off, ifth'ey are not required.

Inasmuch as depositing of'thematerial is intermittent 1n a'depositing apparatus of the kind disclosed in Patent No. 2,664,055, the newdepositing .head maybe provide'd with a slide valve which can :be actuated in any suitable way tov prevent and permit flow of the material or materials through the -nozzles in the proper timed relation to the operationof the'apparatus.

The manifold and the valves and nozzles are constructed and arranged for easy disassembly to facilitate cleaning and repair thereof so that they comply fully with the sanitary codes of the several States and permit ready use of the depositing heads for many different types of coating and topping materials, in succession, in accordance with the requirements of the bakery and confectionary makingindustriesb For a better understanding of the present invention, regerlence may be had to the accompanying drawings in w 10 t Fig. 51 isa plan view of 'a typical depositing head embodying the present invention;

ig. 2 ,is-a view inside elevation of the depositing head; .and t Fig. 3 is a view .in .cross section taken-on line '3--3 ofFig. 1. H

The invention will be described with respect to a depositing'head which may be used in a depositing apparatus of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,664,055in which the depositing head is reciprocated in timed rela-\ tion to a continuously moving conveyor to deposit toppings, coating or other materials on rows of wafers or otherarticles carried by the conveyor in predetermined spacedrelation. p i

The depositinghead 10 includes an elongated manifold 11 which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, has a. pair of bores or passages, 12 and 13 extending lengthwise from end to end of. the manifold, The top surface "14 ,of the manifold'is flat and the sides 15 and16 of the manifold may also be fiat, or, as shown, may be curved in patlto conform to the outer sides of the passages 12 an 3.

The manifold ll'hasa pair of inlets 112A and 13A extending diagonally from the upper sides of the manifold -which communicate with:'the passages 12 and 1-3, respectively, and through which material to be deposited is introduced into thepassages 12 and 13 under pressure by means of flexible hoses or couplings (not shown).

The manifold 11 has a bottomsurface 17 which is principally'fiat throughoutits length but has a generally rectangular groove 18 therein, extending the full length of the manifold. Abutting against the surface 17 is a nozzle plate 19 which carries a row of nozzles 20extending lengthwise of the plate along about its centerline. The inozzles 20 are hollow tubular members and are in alignment with holes 21 extending through the nozzle plate .19. The nozzle plate 19 is removably secured to the manifold by means of a series of bolts22 having heads 23 engaging the undersurface of the plate 19 and shanks 24 extending through notches 25 in the edges of the plate and bosses 26 at the sides ofthe manifold.

The manifold 11 has a rowof :bores or openings 27 extending transversely through it, each of the openings 27 being substantially'in alignment with a corresponding nozzle 20.. The openings 27 are located between the passages 12; and '13, asshown in Fig. 3, andcom municate with these passages through the lateral ports 28 and 29 in the walls 30 and 31 between the openings 27 and the passages 12 and 13 respectively. Each opening 27 receives a rotary valve-plug 32 by means of which. the interiors of the passages 12 and 13 can be connected selectively to, and disconnected from, the correspondingnozzle 20. The valve plug may cons'ist of a cylindrical member-having a bore 33 extending axially thereof from its lower end to aboubthe plane ofthe tops of the ports '28 and 29 and having a radial branch 34 at its upper'end in alignment with the ports 28'and 29. The lower end ofthe plug '32 has a flange 35 received rotatably in a counterbore in "the groove 18 to limit the upward movement of the plug. The upper end of theplug 32 has flats 36 thereon to receive a wrench. handle or the'like to rotate the plug 32 to connect the .centerbore 33 either to the port 28 or. the port ..29.- The plug 32 canalso be :IOtated to position the branch 34 between .the ports 28fand 29 to disconmeet the borei33 .from bothe of the passages 12 and 13. The plug '32Lis provided with a collar 37 which has an opening fitting the non circular-end :of the plug near its upperend. The collar '37 rests a'gainst top surface .14

bf the manifold 11. The collar 37 is used to retain the valve plug 32 in adjusted position. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a pair of screws 38, 38 having their heads overlapping the collar 37 are screwed into the top of the manifold so that when the screwsare tightened, the heads of the screws bear against the collar 37 and lock it against rotation. The valve plug can be released for adjustment by loosening the screws 38, and the plug can be detached from the collar 37 and removed for cleanlng without disturbing the setting of the collar and plug.

Inasmuch as the action of the depositing head in depositing materials is intermittent when used in a depositing apparatus of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,664,055, the depositing head is provided with a slide valve 39 for interrupting the flow of the material from the passage 12 or 13 to the respective nozzles 20. The slide valve may consist of a metal bar 40" (Figs. 2 and 3) of rectangular cross section which is slidably mounted in the groove 18 and abuts against the upper surface of the nozzle plate 19 and the flanges on the ends of the valve plugs 32 and holds them against downward movement. The slide valve bar has a row of holes 41 therein each corresponding to a nozzle and movable into and out of alignment therewith to permit and prevent, respectively, flow of material to the nozzles.

The slide valve 39 is reciprocated in timed relation to the remainder of the depositing apparatus in any desired way. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the left-hand end of the bar 40 extends beyond the left-hand end of the manifold and is connected by means of a screw 42 to a flange 43 on the end of a coupling 44 which is threaded on the end of the piston rod 45 of an air cylinder or motor 46. The cylinder or motor 46 is mounted on a supporting plate 47 which has spaced apart flanges 48 and 49 that are secured to corresponding extensions 50 and 51 from the left-hand end of the manifold. The flanges 48 and 49 and the extensions 50 and 51 are located on opposite sides of the coupling 44 and the end of the slide bar 40 as shown in Fig. l.

The opposite end of the manifold 11 is mounted on a supporting plate 52 by means of a flange 53 on the plate 52 and an extension 54 on the manifold.

The supporting plates 47 and 52 movable in slideways on the frame of the depositing machine (not shown) to enable the depositing head 10 to be moved through an orbital path during the depositing operation. The supporting plates 47 and 52 carry the guide rollers 55 and 56, respectively, engaging the guideways to prevent endwise movement of the manifold.

In order to facilitate cleaning of the depositing head 10, the ends of the passages 12 and 13 are provided with quick removable closures.

ing a radially extending pin 58 for enga ement in a bayonet slot 59 in the outer side of the manifold. Each plug has a flattened knob 60 on its outer end to facilitate insertion and removal of the plug.

In a typical operation of the depositing head 10, the valve plugs 32 for the several nozzles 20 may be adusted so that the alternate nozzles are connected to the passages 12 and 13. The valves may be adiusted in the same direction and at the same speed as the article to be topped or coated with the marshmallow.

The slide bar 40 is moved by the air motor 46 to shut off discharge of the marshmallow after the articles have been properly topped or coated and prevents further discharge until the next row of articles is brought into position to be coated, topped or filled.

The depositing head 10 described above can be cleaned very easily by removing the end plugs 57 at either or length of both ends of the passage and directing steam or hot water through the passages 12 and 13, the valves 32, the slide valve openings 41 and the nozzles 20. The entire depositing head also can be readily dismantled for inspection and repair by removing the bolts 22 which allows the nozzle plate, the slide valve and the valve plugs to be removed from the manifold 10. The collars 37 remain attached to the manifold due to being held in position by the screws 38. When the depositor is reassembled, the valve settings remain undisturbed. i

The depositing head -10 is susceptible to considerable modification. For example, several additional inlet couplings 12A and 13A may be provided along the the manifold and partitions may be positioned in the passages 12 and 13 to divide them into a plurality of separate compartments each communicating with a separate inlet and one or more nozzles.

Instead of only one pair of passages 12 and 13, the

- manifold may have a plurality of pairs of passages and a separate row of nozzles for each pair of passages. Moreover, other types of valves, such as slide or sleeve valves may be used instead of the rotary valve plugs 32 disclosed herein. If desired, these valves can be suitably ported to allow materials from both passages 1n the manifold to be deposited simultaneously through each nozzle to produce vari-colored or vari-flavored deposits. In addition, the slide valve 39 can be actuated by means of cams or the like instead of the fluid motor l 46, as disclosed. Therefore, it will be understood that As shown in Fig 2 each closure may consist of a cylindrical plug 57 carryto place the radial branches 34 of the bores therein in.

full or partial alignment with one or the other of the ports 28 and 29 to regulate the rate of discharge through the several nozzles, depending upon the fluidity of the material and the distance of the nozzles from the couplings 12A and 13A. When viscous materials, like marshmallow are being deposited, the valve plugs at the ends of the manifold may be fully opened while those nearer the inlets 12A and 13A may be partially closed to compensate for the resistance to. flow of the material and assure uniformity in the amounts of materials discharged by the several nozzles.

The materials to be deposited, for example, white marshmallow and pink marshmallow, are supplied to the passages 12 and 13, respectively. Thus, alternate nozzles discharge pink or white marshmallow. As the depositing head 10 is moved during the.depositing operation, the slide valve 39. is reciprocated back and forth by the air motor 46 to align the holes 41 in the slide bar 40 with the nozzles and permit discharge of the marshmallow while the depositing head is moving and communicating therewith, a

the above-described embodiment of the invention is 11- lustrative, and should not be considered as limiting the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A depositing head for a depositing apparatus, comprising an elongated manifold having a pair of spaced apart, substantially parallel passages extending lengthwise thereof, said manifold also having a plurality of openings therethrough extending between said passages plurality of hollow nozzles mounted on said manifold in substantial alignment with said openings and communicating therewith, and valve plugs mounted in said openings for movement relative to said manifold, each valve plug having a port therein communicating with a corresponding nozzle, said valve plug being movable to move the port also selectively into and out of communication with each of the passages in said manifold to selectively allow and prevent communication between said nozzles and either of said passages.

2. A depositing head for a depositing apparatus, cornprising an elongated manifold having a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart passages to receive flow able materials extending lengthwise of said manifold and a plurality of substantially parallel openings extending through said manifold between and substantially perpendicular to said passages, said openings communicating with said passages to receive material therefrom, a plurality of hollow depositing nozzles mounted on said manifold substantially in alignment with said openings and communicating therewith, and a valve member in each opening and movable relative to said manifold, each valve member having a port therein communicating with a corresponding nozzle, said valve member being movable to bring the port also selectively into and out of communication with each of the passages in said manifold to selectively permit discharge of said material from one of said passages through the corresponding nozzle and prevent discharge of, the material from the other passage through said corresponding nozzle.

prising an elongated manifold having a pair of substantially parallel passages extending lengthwise thereof, means to introduce flowable materials under pressure into said passages, said manifold having a plurality of openings extending transversely through it between and in communication with said passages, valve members rotatably mounted in said openings, each valve member having a port therein communicating with a corresponding nozzle, said valve member being rotatable to bring the port also selectively into and out of communication with each of the passages in said manifold to discharge material selectively from said passages through one end of each opening, and hollow nozzles mounted on said manifold in substantial alignment with said openings to receive and discharge the material discharged through said one end of each opening.

5. A depositing head for a depositing apparatus, C0111- prising an elongated manifold having a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart passages to receive flowable materials extending lengthwise of said manifold and a plurality of substantially parallel openings extending through said manifold between and substantially perpendicular to said passages, said openings communicating with said passages to receive material therefrom, a plurality of hollow depositing nozzles corresponding to said openings mounted on said manifold substantially in alignment with said openings and communicating therewith, and a valve member adjustably mounted in each opening, each valve member having a port therein communicating with a corresponding nozzle, said valve member being adjustable to bring the port also selectively into and out of communication with each of the passages in said manifold to selectively permit discharge of said material from said passages through the corresponding nozzle.

6. A depositing head for a depositing apparatus, comprising an elongated manifold having a pair of substantially parallel passages extending lengthwise thereof.

means to introduce fiowable materials under pressure into said passages, said manifold having a plurality of openings extending through it between said passages in spaced relation lengthwise of said manifold, each of said openings communicating with both of said passages, a nozzle plate fixed to said manifold and having a plurality of hollow nozzles thereon substantially in alignment with and corresponding to said openings, a slide valve having a plurality of ports therein corresponding to said openings, said slide valve being mounted for sliding movement between said manifold and said nozzle plate, means to move said slide valve to prevent and permit communication between said openings and said nozzles, and a valve member in each of said openings, each valve member having a port therein communicating with a corresponding nozzle, said valve member being movable to bring the port also selectively into and out of communication with each of the passages in said manifold to permit selective discharge of of said passages through a corresponding opening and prevent discharge of the material from the other passage through said corresponding openmg.

7. The manifold set forth in claim 6 in which the ends of said passages are open and comprising closure plugs detachably mounted on said manifold to close the ends of said openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

